A nine-month old baby was killed by a dog after a firework allegedly caused it to panic, locals claim.
The incident sparked a major police presence on Sunday evening (November 2) at a home in Rogiet, Monmouthshire.
According to locals speaking to The Sun, the dog was startled by fireworks being set off in a nearby field.
Local Caroline Knight told the publication “Someone was letting fireworks off near the house and the dog was agitated by them and must have panicked and gone for the baby.
“My thoughts are with the family today. It is absolutely heartbreaking. A terrible, terrible tragedy. I feel for them especially at this time because I lost my granddaughter two years ago when she was just 11 months old.
(Image: John Myers)
“The circumstances in which my granddaughter died were very different, but the feeling is the same and my heart goes out to them.”
The community has been left “in shock” after hearing about the tragic death
Emergency services were called to an address in Crossway, Rogiet, at 6pm on Sunday following a report of a dog attack.
Peter Strong, Monmouthshire county councillor for the Rogiet ward, described the incident as “unbelievably awful”.
He said: “I think the community is very much in mourning, there’s a profound sense of shock.
“(People are) really stunned, I think.
(Image: John Myers)
“Clearly, our thoughts are with the family, to lose a baby in these circumstances, a thing of deep joy and love, to have that taken away from you… It’s unbelievably awful.
“I’d like to appeal to the community to remain calm and give the police a chance to do their work and to give the family the chance to grieve in peace.”
Katherine Close, trustee of the Rogiet Community Junction cafe, said: “The community is in shock, you never expect it.
“It’s not often that we see a lot of emergency vehicles around, so when it does happen you know something serious has happened.”
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s really sad, it’s emotional.
“I’ve got a baby myself … I feel for the parents.”
Currently no arrests have been made but police are reportedly investigating the dog breed.
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